With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s time for that ages-old question: What does Mom want? Of course, very few Moms are going to come out tell you that they want jewelry for Mother’s Day. But since we know a little something about Moms and Mother’s Day, we’re here to help!

Dads and offspring listen up: Mom wants bling.

During New York’s Fashion Week a few months ago, bling was everywhere. We especially noticed all that amazing neck candy. So with visions of necklaces still dancing in our heads, here’s a list of exquisite Gemvara necklaces – any one of which would make Mom really happy. As in…Really Happy!

If you’ve never heard of March Madness it is an NCAA single-elimination college basketball tournament held each spring in the United States.

Before you roll your eyes, March Madness is actually a lot more fun than you may think. Picking teams for a March Madness bracket can be as much fun for the girly-girl as it is for the die-hard fan because it all boils down to luck. There are so many upsets during the series that you can win just as easily by creating a bracket based on team mascots than you can from analyzing every player on every team.

While we’re not saying that will actually work, we do suggest you follow along. Besides your alma mater might even be in the tournament!

Have a team you’re rooting for this year? What are your team’s colors? Figure it out and design some jewelry using our customization feature on gemvara.com. After all—you may need some victory bling when your boys take it home April 2.

Need inspiration? Check out our boards on Pinterest and pin your own pieces using hashtag #MarchMadness.

I just wanted to thank you guys for making an incredible and gorgeous ring. Now, I don’t pretend to understand everything as this was a “promise” ring (apparently the ring before the ring) – I imagine I have the Jonas Brothers to thank for this – but regardless, it made an amazing anniversary gift.

Frankly, I had a very hard time trying to find the “right” Claddagh ring for Lisa. I spent weeks and looked at hundreds of rings, but in the end, I realized that I should have just started with making the perfect ring, instead of finding it. Creating something where I was able to put together the options and then engrave it, made this ring as unique as Lisa is – and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Toss in the fact that you guys are in Boston made the Claddagh as “authentically Irish” as one would could get in the US :)

My reaction being positive enough, but when Lisa saw it, she was so excited it induced an asthma attack. I’m not sure how other people have reacted to your craft, but I think you guys have some serious bragging rights now… looking forward to the “real” ring next, though I might have to propose to her with medical staff standing by.

Thanks so much :)

- James

A few weeks ago we received this charming and comical e-mail from a customer, James. The office got a kick out of his girlfriend’s breathtaking reaction (pun intended) and it got us sharing stories of our own gift-giving hilarities — and mishaps!

In the spirit of James’ funny tale, we would like to know if you have any funny gift-giving or proposal stories. Did she fall off her chair? Did you forget the ring? Whatever it is, share it with us!

Leave your story in the comments below and hopefully we can all share a few laughs in the name of love.

Hey Cupid, Valentine’s Day is one week away! I know; we can’t believe it either. But we do believe that you probably haven’t got a clue as to what you’re going to do, not to mention what you’re going to give. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Lucky for you, we’ve planned ahead and have plenty of incredible, unique, and dazzling gifts that will wow her AND ship in time for Valentine’s Day!

Whether you’re looking for a ring, earrings, or a special pendant, all the items can still be customized and made especially for you. Browse through our collection here – just be sure to double check the ship date!

As most of you know, last night was the BIG game (the Super Bowl!). And that BIG game was also a BIG letdown for all of us up here in Boston… Don’t even get us started. So, let’s forget about the score for a moment and talk about something much for fun – the commercials.

Personally, I thought they were pretty good this year. Aside from a few boring and downright bizarre attempts, overall I laughed more than I cried. My top favorites of the night were the “Man’s Best Friend” by Doritos, “Rescue Dogs” by Bud Light and Hyuandi’s “All For One” ad. Oh, and you can’t forget about Jerry Seinfeld’s Acura ad. That guy makes everything funny.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3bqbJduK2w[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT7o590nE6k[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U38jELwi0lE[/youtube]

Which ones did you like best? See a recap of all the ads on Mashable’s Super Bowl Ads Pinterest board and share your favorites in the comments below.

Hey, it’s OK if you know that your Valentine got your gift at a discount, right?

For starters, it says that he’s a savvy guy. He takes a hint very well. He appreciates you enough to want to buy you something nice (even if he may have trouble affording it). And best of all, he knows a good deal when he sees it.

Make his wallet (and your jewelry box) happy this Valentine’s Day by sending your guy this offer:

Valentine’s Day is coming up and some of you are (hopefully) starting to think about what that means for you. Gifts? Date? Breakfast in bed? Flowers? Whatever your plan, the hardest part is always the first step: Asking someone to be your Valentine. Don’t fret – we’ve got answers!

There are two scenarios to asking someone to be your Valentine. The first is if you’re planning a date. In this case — ask ahead of time. The second scenario is if you are giving a gift or simply like the feeling of having a Valentine. In this case, you can ask the day of. Hey, you never know, maybe he or she won’t have plans that night…

Here are some cute suggestions for asking someone the day of:

Send them a hand-written letter or poem. Cards in the mail or in person totally trump an e-mail.

Not looking to skirt the issue? Be straightforward! It never hurts to ask.

Send them some yummy treats that get your point across. Think: Heart shaped pizza, cookies that spell out “Will you Be Mine?” or personalized M&Ms.

Surprise flowers are always a good idea. Send them to her home or office.

What about if you’re already dating?

Write “Will you be my Valentine?” with lipstick on the bathroom mirror or leave a note on his or her car in the morning.

Engrave a ring with a meaningful message such as, “You will be my Valentine forever” and present it to him or her. You can take advantage of Gemvara’s free engraving until 2/5.

Create an extra-large sign, complete with balloons and streamers. Hang it in the house or even better, leave it for him or her at work. Humorous and silly is usually a good route.

Surprise him or her with a home cooked dinner. (This would work best if you are married or living together). Act like you forgot about Valentine’s Day until she comes home to a romantic dinner. It may be tough and you could get some harassment throughout the day, but the payoff with be worth it.

Finally, who says you have to ask at all! Spend the day with friends and family who will be your Valentine’s every day of the year – even without you asking!

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner we’ve got something on our minds: Promise Rings.

You can thank Joe Jonas and Robert Pattinson for this, but recently promise rings have become a popular gift. However, many people (including women) don’t even know what this ring means. We’re here to air out this allusive idea for anyone wondering – what’s with the ring, before the ring?

A promise ring is just what it sounds like, a ring given to symbolize a promise. While this is most commonly used as a precursor to an engagement, a promise ring can mean a lot of things depending on the status of your relationship.

A promise ring could say, “I will return to you,” for a lover who will be traveling or going over-seas.

It could say, “Here is my promise to replace this ring with a larger diamond someday,” for those who can’t yet afford an expensive engagement ring.

To be very specific, the ring could be a promise to stop doing something (such as gambling, smoking or drinking.)

“I am saving myself for you,” is also a common theme for those using the gift as a purity ring.

Promise rings are not for everyone, but if you feel that your relationship would benefit from this meaningful gift, then we are all for it. However, one thing is for certain: make sure you’re clear about your intentions before handing over a ring box. If not, you could be left with no girlfriend, instead of a happy one.

If you’re thinking of giving a promise ring, Valentine’s Day is a wonderful time to present this gift. Gemvara is offering free engraving until January 31st so take advantage and promise your loved one, “You will be my Valentine forever.”

Yesterday was a crazy day for football fans. First off, apologies to all the Ravens and 49ers fans out there. I feel for you guys – really, I do. However, if you are a lucky fan of one the winning teams (the Patriots and the Giants), now’s your chance to show some spirit!

At Gemvara we’re all about giving you a chance to share your story. We love nothing more than seeing our customer’s designs and hearing about how much thought went into each detail. It’s our favorite part of the job.

But not every piece of jewelry has to tell a heart-warming, mushy-gushy story. Why not create a piece dedicated to your over-the-top, die-hard obsession with your favorite sports team?

The Super Bowl is in two weeks so here’s a perfect opportunity to design the piece of your super-fan dreams. Since both teams have similar colors, we figured you might be using a lot of ruby, garnet, and blue sapphire, but the choice is yours – we’ve just left you with a little inspiration.

Who will you be rooting for on game day? Create a design and share it with us on Facebook or Twitter!